the only one that is truly sacred, the only truly sacred obligation we have is to prepare and equip those women and men we send into harm s way and care for them and their families when they return home, and when they don t. it s an obligation that unites americans, brings us together, make sure the women and men who were willing to lay down their lives for us in the very best to return. i want to acknowledge we are making progress in key areas, like bipartisan legislation advancing in congress to deliver healthcare services and benefits to veterans and the survivors impacted by toxic exposures. don t know how many americans and service members may have died because of what they are exposed to on the battlefield. toxic smoke from burn pits, burn pits that incinerated the waste of war, hazardous material, jet fuel, so much more. we have a duty to do right by them, and i m determined to make sure that our brave service families and members that served alongside them do not wait